Sex Preference and the Value of Sons and Daughters in Nepal

Abstract

Sex preference and the specific value of sons and daughters to parents in Nepal are examined using rural and urban survey data from 1979. Ideal family size among all respondents was, on average, three children, with two sons and one daughter the preferred sex composition for about 90 percent of all respondents. Among those who reported current contraceptive use, the mean number of living sons was higher than the mean number of living daughters for all respondents. Most couples have at least one son before they adopt contraception; respondents had, on average, three to four births before adopting contraception. Sons are preferred to daughters by Nepalese parents mainly for socioeconomic and religious reasons, as opposed to the economic reasons reported elsewhere in many developing societies. The findings indicate that the economic motive for having both sons and daughters may be weakening in Nepal, but that a preference for sons does exist.

Gender role and child health care utilization in Nepal

“…This indicates that the underlying household dynamics of health care choice are different for boys and girls [13]. One possible explanation for this bias is the existence of strong son-preference in Nepal [9][10][11]. If health care is considered as an investment, poor households may not wish to invest in girls who will leave the family after marriage [3] and hence they deem girls' need for care less often than they would do so if the child was a boy.…”

Repeated pregnancy in a woman with uterine prolapse from a rural area in Nepal

“…This results in multiple pregnancies without sufficient child spacing. 10 I remained at the district hospital Jumla until April 2010. The woman had not received any further treatment for the uterine prolapse except for a ring pessary up to that time.…”

Does Preference for Sons Have a Differential Impact on the Intelligence of Boys and Girls?: Evidence From India

“…The preference for balance means equal number of boys and girls and as suggested by the authors is not to be interpreted as indifference or an absence of sex bias. The Coombs Index has been used to measure sex preferences for children at the individual level in a number of developing countries (e.g., Coombs & Sun, 1978;Ahmed, 1981;Karki, 1988).…”